Step-ladder.



0.. E. STROUD.

STEP LADDER. I APPLICATION FILED OUT. 12, 1912.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913,

2 SHEBTS-SHEIET 1.

ifg 46 47 Wbtueooeo COLUIBIA PMNOGRAPH CO" WASHINUTDN, D. C-

G. E. STROUD.

STEP LADDER.

APPLIGATION FILED 00112, 1912.

Patented Nov/1, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CLARENCE E. STROUD, OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA.

swan-LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Application filed October 12,1912. Serial No. 725,497.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. STROUD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Island, in the county of Hall and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in step ladders, the object of the invention being to provide an extension step ladder which is particularly adapted for use by painters and paper hangers wherein it is necessary to use a scaffold to do the work, the step ladder taking the place of the scaffold by using one ladder at each end of a plank and raising and lowering the two ladders to correspond to the height of the work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a step ladder of the above character, which while capable of adjustment to various heights can be quickly and easily folded into compact form so as to occupy minimum space when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a step ladder of the above character which will possess advantages in points of efficiency and durability, is inexpensive to manufacture and at the same time is simple in construction and operation.

Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the claim and shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved step ladder, showing the same partly extended. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the supporting legs. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevation, and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view illustrating one of the bearings and one of the pivoted engaging members carried by the main rails of the ladder.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 and 2 indicate the main rails of the ladder which are suitably connected by means of the rungs 3. Pivotally secured to the rails l and 2 at the upper ends thereof are the supporting legs 1.

The rails 1 and 2 are provided upon one edge thereof with an overhanging flange 5 which is adapted to form a guide for the flanges 6 formed upon the sliding rails 7, the flange 6 being disposed between the rungs 3 of the ladder and the flange 5. The sliding rails 7 are suitably connected by means of the rungs S and are provided upon their outer edges with the serrations 9 which are adapted to be engaged by the pivotei pawls 10 which are carried by the rails 1 and 2 and are to be held in engagement with the serrations 9 by means of the swinging loops 11 so that when the extension 12 has been adjusted to a suitable height, the same will be held in position by means of the pawls 10. The rails 7 are provided upon the rear face thereof with the racks 13 which are adapted to be engaged by the gears 14 mounted upon the shaft 15, whereby the extension 12 may be quickly raised or lowered. The shaft 15 is mounted in suitable bearings 16 which are carried by the rails 1 and 2 of the main ladder and is rotated by means of a suitable handle 17 secured at one end thereof. Pivotally secured to the lower ends of the supporting legs 4 are the adjustable extension legs 18 which are formed in two sections 19 and 20, each section being provided with a longitudinal slot 21 in. which are arranged the bolts 22 having winged nuts 23 threaded thereon to hold the sections in various adjusted positions. The upper ends of the sections 19 are provided with the concave surfaces 24 which are adapted to engage the rungs 8 of the extension 12 to further sup port the same in an adjusted position.

When it is desired to adjust the extension 12 to any suitable height, the shaft 15 is rotated by means of the handle 17 which in turn will rotate the gears 14 and raise the extension to the desired height. The extension legs 18 are then adjusted so that the curved surface 2-1 of the upper sections will engage beneath the upper rung of the extension as illustrated in Fig. 1. From this it will be seen that the extension 12 is not only held in position by the pivoted pawls 10 but is further supported by the extension legs 18 forming a firm support for the plank or other suitable scaffold which might be placed thereon. In lowering the extension 12, the members 11 are swung outwardly so that the pawls 10 will be disengaged from the serrations 9 and the shaft 15 is rotated to lower the extension after the legs 18 have been removed from beneath the upper rung of the ladder.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent that I have provided a simple and durable extension step ladder which is particularly adapted for use by painters and paperhangers and which can be quickly folded so as to occupy minimum space when not in use and which at the same time is extremely simple in construction and can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

\Vhile I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, it will be obvious that various changes in the details of construction and in the proportions may be resorted to for successfully carrying my invention into practice without sacrificing any of the novel features or departing from the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is In a device of the character described, the combination with a main ladder having the forward edges of the side rails thereof Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

directed inwardly at right angles to form guides, of an extension having serrations formed on the outer faces of the side rails thereof while the rear edges of said side rails are directed outwardly at right angles and engaged against the rear faces of the inwardly directed edges of the side rails of the main ladder, said outwardly directed edges being provided upon their rear faces with racks, gears engaged with the racks for raising and lowering the extension, a shaft engaged through said gears, means carried by the main ladder for supporting the shaft, means for rotating the shaft, means for engagement with the serrations to lock the extension in adjust-ed position, and means for supporting the extension in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof'I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE E. STROUD.

\Vitnesses:

W. J. Roo'r, Lornsn TAYLOR.

Washington, D. C." 

